KATHMANDU, April 7: As Kathmandu ranks among the most polluted cities in the world, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology warned that air pollution across the country may worsen in the coming days due to limited chances of rainfall.
In its latest 8 pm bulletin, the Meteorological Forecasting Division predicted light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning in a few places in the hill areas of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Karnali provinces over the next 24 hours. A few high-altitude areas in these provinces may also experience light snowfall.
Despite these isolated weather activities, the department stated that most regions in the country are unlikely to see rainfall. The skies over the Himalayas and the Terai plains are expected to remain mostly clear tonight.
Due to dry conditions and minimal rainfall, the risk of wildfires and rising air pollution remains high. The department cautioned that this may affect public health, agriculture, daily life, road conditions, and air travel. It urged the public to take necessary precautions to minimize the impact.
Currently, the country is experiencing a partial influence of western and local winds. As a result, the hill regions, including Gandaki Province, are likely to see partly to generally cloudy skies, while the other areas remain mostly clear.
The division added that on Monday, some parts of the Himalayas may again see light snowfall. The hill areas could witness brief rain with thunder, lightning, and gusty winds, while the Tarai is expected to remain mostly clear with some partial cloud cover.